.YJ TURAL LA WS. 79 



u 1 declare I am glad to hear an American uttering such 

 sentiments ; but, indeed, they are irresistible so simply and 

 clearly right, that they seem, to one who has given any at 

 tention to the subject, altogether unworthy of discussion. 

 But there is a still more evident justness, not to say policy, 

 after one nation has opened her ports to free competition, 

 that she should not be excluded or restrained from those of 

 another. I do trust your nation begins to see how disgraceful 

 to it is that false, absurd, unjust system of Protection, and will 

 soon reciprocate our more generous policy, and let our com 

 mercial intercourse be governed by the natural law of trade. 

 The simple law of nature should be the law of nations.&quot; 



&quot; I am not so sure that Free Trade is a simple law of 

 nature,&quot; I answered. &quot; If that is the natural law, which you 

 were saying that we interfered with, in not allowing the rich 

 man to separate himself as much as he chooses from the poor, 

 then selfishness is the only reliable, natural guide, and the 

 impulses of selfishness must not be thwarted by law. Might 

 makes right Every man for himself that s the law for you ; 

 quite a different thing from this you talk of forgiving old 

 scores and reciprocating the advantages you would give us, 

 now that you find it much the most for your interest to do so, 

 whether we reciprocate or not.&quot; 



&quot; The first impulse of nature,&quot; he replied, &quot; is, every man 

 for himself, perhaps ; but the first true law of helping himself 

 is to help another, to have a partner to labour with for a re 

 ciprocal advantage.&quot; 



&quot; I always heard self-preservation was the first law of na 

 ture,&quot; said the coachman. 



&quot; Exactly,&quot; said I ; &quot; self-preservation or, in fact, selfish 

 ness that s the first law, not perfect reciprocity of good 

 services, but the best payment we can get for our services. 

 }t\ the necessity of the buyer, not his generosity, that governs 



